Pat Fitzgerald (BS97) Named to AFCA Board of DirectorsNorthwestern University head coach and SESP graduate Pat Fitzgerald (BS97) was elected to the Board of Trustees of the American Football Coaches Association. Fitzgerald, along with three other college head coaches, was elected by members attending the 2012 AFCA convention in San Antonio, Texas. 1/11/12

New Project-Based Science Curriculum Available to SchoolsA three-year middle school science curriculum series, Investigating and Questioning our World through Science and Technology (IQWST), developed by a team led by SESP professor Brian Reiser and his collaborators, was commercially released for the 2012 school year. 9/8/11

Daily Northwestern Quotes Diane Schanzenbach on Lifelong Impact of TeachersTwo studies by SESP assistant professor Diane Schanzenbach and her colleagues show that "a good teacher makes a lifetime impact on his or her students," Schanzenbach tells the Daily Northwestern. Early school experiences affect college attendance, salary and interpersonal skills later on, she explains.1/17/12

Bart Hirsch Wins Social Policy Book AwardSESP professor Barton Hirsch and his co-authors Nancy Deutsch (PhD04) and David DuBois won the 2012 SRA social policy book award for best multi-authored volume for their book After-School Centers and Youth Development: Case Studies of Success and Failure.3/7/12

NU-TEACH Launches Peter Goff on Path to ProfessorshipNU-TEACH graduate Peter Goff's high-flying act in education has taken him from the high school classroom to a tenure track at a university. Starting in September, Goff will be an assistant professor of education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. 3/13/12

New York Times Updates John McKnight's Term 'Redlining' as 'Weblining' In an article called "Facebook Is Using You," the New York Times refers to the term redlining popularized by professor emeritus John McKnight in the 1970s. Today data aggregation results in "weblining," denying people opportunities based on their digital selves, according to Lori Andrews.2/7/12

David Figlio Comments on School Choice in New HampshireProfessor Figlio warns New Hampshire not to expect revolutionary changes with school choice, based on his study of the Florida law. "Anybody who was looking for a miracle has to keep looking," he tells the New Hampshire News.2/7/12

Kirabo Jackson Finds College-Prep Incentive Programs Have Long-Term EffectsResearch by assistant professor Kirabo Jackson shows the effectiveness of incentive-based college preparatory programs for disadvantaged students. He found that a cash rewards program for high school students and teachers in inner-city schools boosted the students’ college attendance and employment.3/12/12

Junior Zoe Goodman a Finalist for Truman FellowshipZoe Goodman, a junior social policy major, has become a finalist for the Truman Fellowship. The Harry S. Truman Foundation recognizes college juniors with exceptional leadership potential who are committed to careers in public service.3/1/12

U.S. News Ranks SESP Number 9 in the NationNorthwestern University's School of Education and Social Policy (SESP) ranks number nine in the nation, according to the new 2013 ranking of graduate schools of education by U.S.News & World Report.3/12/12

Jim Spillane Addresses Asia Leadership Conference Professor James Spillane gave a keynote address at the Asia Leadership Roundtable 2012 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on March 12. His topic was the instructional leadership role of the school principal.3/20/12

Run to the East Event Features Film, TalkSESP is hosting a screening and special guest talk on April 3 for Run to the East, a documentary that tells of three Native American high school students who beat the odds and earn college scholarships because of cross country running. Their running coach, Tim Host, will speak about his experiences working with these students.3/27/12

Faculty, Students Give Presentations at AERA Conference At the annual meeting of the American Education Research Association (AERA) from April 13 to 17 in Vancouver, 57 Northwestern University faculty members and graduate students will give presentations about their education research. 3/22/12

Adding Women to the Engineering EquationResearch by professor Lois Trautvetter documents that experiences with a positive learning community support the academic growth of female scientists. In particular, Trautvetter is focused on increasing the number of female and historically underrepresented engineering students at undergraduate institutions nationwide. 10/1/13

Do Single-Sex Schools Improve Learning?Since little solid evidence exists on how single-sex schooling affects achievement, assistant professor Kirabo Jackson set out to study the question. He used unique data from Trinidad and Tobago, , where in contrast to the United States almost all single-sex schools are public.10/16/13

'Ghetto,' 'Thug,' 'Aggie': How Gender Influences School ExperiencesAssistant professor Simone Ispa-Landa studies inequality in education from a variety of perspectives. She was not surprised, therefore, when her research found that inner-city African American students who were bused to affluent suburban schools faced bias and stereotyping.10/16/13

Project Excite Expands Enrichment of Gifted Minority Students’ LearningProject Excite, a program of the Center for Talent Development that gives gifted minority students sustained enrichment through eighth grade, is seeing success on many fronts. The 12-year-old collaboration with Evanston/Skokie District 65 provides classes on Saturdays and during the summer.5/6/12

Diana Mendley Rauner to Give Convocation AddressThe speaker at SESP Convocation will be Diana Mendley Rauner, president of the Ounce of Prevention Fund, which advocates for policies and programs to benefit young children and families.5/6/12

Graduate Students Jamie Hoversen, Christine Yang Win FulbrightsMaster’s student Jamie Hoversen and doctoral student Christine Yang won Fulbright awards for the 2012-13 academic year. Hoversen will spend her Fulbright year working and teaching in Hungary, and Yang will do research on mathematical learning in South Korea.5/2/12

David Figlio Discusses School Vouchers with WRKF RadioAs Louisiana passes a law allowing school vouchers for low-income students, professor David Figlio discusses his research on Florida's system. Performance of participating students improved a little bit, and schools competing with the private schools involved improved.4/3/12

Atlantic Focuses on Results from Kirabo Jackson's Cash Incentives StudyKirabo Jackson's study of a Texas cash rewards system found students in the program took more AP classes, passed more AP tests, enrolled in four-year college in higher numbers, were more likely to graduate and be employed, and had higher lifetime earnings. Atlantic sees the program as a way to gain students' attention and make a difference.4/24/12

Huffington Post: Learning Sciences Collaborates on Graphic TextbooksHuffington Post reports on the Reading with Pictures project to create graphic textbooks as a way to teach a range of subjects. Associate professor David Rapp spearheads research with the nonprofit, which aims to teach content covering common core standards nationwide.4/24/12

MSLOC Program Celebrates 10th Anniversary The Master of Science in Learning and Organizational Change program marks its 10th anniversary with a celebration this spring. Since 2002 the program has expanded by offering community, innovation and the marriage of theory to practice — and it now encompasses students from around the world. 4/26/12

Promote 360 Hosts Chicago-Area Students for Campus VisitsPromote 360, the SESP student organization that promotes minority well being, is hosting younger students at several mentoring events this spring. “We want to empower minorities in their educational journeys, starting at a young age,” says co-president Leah Martinez.5/6/12

Rayane Alamuddin, Lindsay Till Hoyt Named AAUW Fellows Human Development and Social Policy doctoral students Rayane Alamuddin and Lindsay Till Hoyt both won American Association of University Women (AAUW) fellowships. Alamuddin received the international fellowship, and Hoyt received the American fellowship.5/6/12

Heather Johnson (PhD12) Helps Vanderbilt Win Education Engagement AwardUnder the guidance of Vanderbilt assistant professor Heather Johnson (PhD12) and others, a Vanderbilt team developed an educational program for underserved middle schools in Nashville. A combined team from Vanderbilt Engineering’s Aerospace Club and Peabody’s Department of Teaching and Learning won a prestigious award from NASA – the 2012 Educational Engagement Award – for inspiring students in the study of rocketry and other science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) topics. 5/2/12

Seven SESP Students Present at Undergraduate ExpoSeven SESP undergraduates were selected to present research at the Undergraduate Research and Arts Exposition on May 21. The students are Elizabeth Nick, Morgan Purrier, Emily Roskey, Emily Srisarajivakul, Heather Polonsky, Sharona Sernick and Joshua Swenson.5/23/12

High School Scientists Showcase Projects at Northwestern At a Northwestern University science showcase, 75 Chicago high school students presented projects in physics, chemistry and earth science. These students studied Meaningful Science Consortium curricula developed at the School of Education and Social Policy. 5/23/12

Jim Spillane Gives International Talks on Education LeadershipProfessor James Spillane gave talks recently in France, Canada and the United States — all concerning school leadership. At a recent conference on leadership in Lyon, France, he gave a keynote address on “School Administration in a Changing U.S. Policy Environment."5/24/12

Kristen Perkins Becomes Northwestern-ETHS Coordinator for New PartnershipA new full-time position based at Evanston Township High School (ETHS) and funded by Northwestern University will formalize and strengthen the relationship between the University and the high school. Kristen Perkins of the Office of STEM Education Partnerships will be the Northwestern/ETHS partnership coordinator.5/24/12

Kits ‘n’ Cats Day Hosts Evanston High School StudentsEvanston Township High School sophomores got a close-up look at Northwestern life during Kits ‘n’ Cats at NU. The daylong event featuring special events, activities and tours, as well as a talk with President Morton Schapiro. 5/23/12

Irene Romulo Wins National Hunger FellowshipIrene Romulo, a social policy major, was awarded a 2012 Congressional Hunger Fund Fellowship, which provides both grassroots and public policy experience. She is the first Northwestern winner in four years.6/6/12

National Review References David Figlio's Findings on School ChoiceResponding to a New York Times piece criticizing school voucher programs, the National Review cites professor David Figlio's finding that the competitive pressure placed on public schools as a result of the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program (which provides vouchers to low-income children and a tax credit to contributing corporations) was “associated with greater improvements in students’ test scores.”6/14/12

Mike Horn: Designing Interactive Games for MuseumsAssistant professor Michael Horn is known for the interactive exhibits he designs for museums. In his quest to determine what makes a museum exhibit engaging and educational, he and his colleagues designed and tested a tabletop touchscreen game to help museum visitors understand evolution and the diversity of life.7/17/12

SESP Offers New Master’s Program in Teacher Leadership The Master of Science in Education (MSEd) program is now offering a curriculum that aligns with Illinois’s new teacher leader endorsement. The new curriculum is designed for teachers with interest in school leadership positions such as curriculum director or department chair.7/18/12

Hannah Nielsen (BS09) Named Assistant Coach at ColoradoLacrosse great Hannah Nielsen (BS09) was named assistant women's lacrosse coach at the University of Colorado. At Northwestern, she won the Tewaaraton Trophy and the Honda Sports Award as the best player in the country both her junior and senior seasons, and she was the Big Ten Athlete of the Year as a junior in 2008.6/14/12

New York Times Cites David Figlio's Research in Article about Romney's Stance on VouchersAs president, Mitt Romney may seek to overhaul the federal government’s largest education programs into a voucher-like system, which he said would introduce marketplace dynamics to drive academic gains. SESP professor David Figlio co-authored a recent study of Florida's voucher program, which found that test scores at public schools, faced with competition, went up. 6/20/12

Seven SESP Graduates Named NUPIP FellowsSeven 2012 graduates of the School of Education and Social Policy were selected as fellows of the Northwestern University Public Interest Program (NUPIP). Jane Merrill, Nadia Ahmed, Steven Chau, Brittany Fawcett, Leah Martinez, Emily Roskey and April Stewart will work with Chicago nonprofit organizations as members of the new NUPIP cohort of fellows.7/17/12

Senior Honors Students Present ResearchThirteen School of Education and Social Policy (SESP) seniors in the undergraduate honors program presented posters of their research projects on June 1.6/19/12

Symposium, Hands-On Workshops Promote Biotechnology TeachingA series of workshops to promote the teaching of biotechnology in Chicago Public Schools kicked off with a June 19 symposium featuring pioneering Northwestern University cancer researcher Teresa K. Woodruff. The event also connected educators to the partners sponsoring the workshops — Northwestern’s Office of STEM Education Partnerships, Baxter International, and Lindblom Math and Science Academy.6/20/12

Health Literacy Initiative Aims to Improve Patient CareThe Health Literacy and Learning Program (HeLP) leads national studies responding to communication gaps between medical providers and patients, including drug labels. The Feinberg Medical School project relies on learning sciences research with SESP associate professor David Rapp.6/28/12

Wall Street Journal Cites David Figlio's Research on School VouchersAn opinion piece on the education policies of the presidential candidates cites professor David Figlio's study of Florida's tax credit scholarship program. His research found that "greater degrees of competition are associated with greater improvements in students' test scores following the program's introduction."6/28/12

National Science Teachers Association Promotes Remote Labs The National Science Teachers Association recommends that teachers seeking to provide their students with real-world lab experience and access to scientific equipment consider remote laboratories accessible online (iLabs), developed by the Office of STEM Education Partnerships. “Remote labs are an important new tool," comments SESP professor Kemi Jona.7/6/12

Research by David Uttal Underscores Impact of Training in Spatial ThinkingTraining is effective for improving spatial skills, Northwestern researchers found through the first comprehensive analysis of studies on such interventions. Improving spatial skills is important because children who do well at spatial tasks are likely to achieve highly in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).7/16/12

WGN-TV: Hailey Danisewicz Leads as Counselor and Role Model at Camp for Kids with CancerSenior Hailey Danisewicz is a counselor at Camp One Step at a Time, run by an organization that provides recreational and educational programs for children with cancer. At 14, Daniesewicz decided to have her lower leg amputated, which she said was the best decision she ever made, and kids at the camp see how much she can do with her prosthetic leg.7/19/12

Danielle Keifert Wins Award at International Learning Sciences ConferenceLearning sciences doctoral student Danielle Keifert won an award for best student paper at a recent international conference in learning sciences. The paper documents the naturally occurring ways in which very young children encounter opportunities for scientific inquiry in their everyday lives.7/19/12

Claire Lew (BS11) Heads Chicago Events to Ignite InspirationClaire Lew (BS11) is leading an event series called IgniteChicago to bring together people for sharing and inspiring others. IgniteChicago evenings feature five-minute presentations by people with ideas, and the next event is scheduled for August 13.7/24/12

SESP Welcomes 210 New Students as School Year BeginsThe School of Education and Social Policy welcomes 49 new undergraduates and 161 new graduate students this fall. Even before classes start on September 27, new students will be busy with orientation activities, and the entire SESP community is invited to an all-school ice cream social on October 3. 9/5/12

Diane Schanzenbach’s Study Finds Long-Term Adult Impact of KindergartenA study by SESP associate professor Diane Schanzenbach and her co-researchers found that children in higher-quality kindergarten classrooms were still reaping benefits 25 years later. Specifically, they earn more and are more likely to attend college, be married, own a home and have retirement savings. 9/5/12

Northwestern Launches Evanston Partnership Office Staffed by Kristen PerkinsA ribbon cutting ceremony with President Morton Schapiro, Evanston mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl and ETHS superintendent Eric Witherspoon opened a new partnership office to strengthen the ties between the University and the high school. The purple office at Evanston Township High School is staffed by Kristen Perkins of Northwestern’s Office of STEM Education Partnerships.9/7/12

HP Recognizes Kemi Jona's Work with Remote LabsIn an article about its Catalyst grant program, the HP website features research professor Kemi Jona's work with cyber learning through remote laboratories that are accessible online. The project gives high school students in rural and urban areas the opportunity to conduct real scientific experiments — on equipment thousands of miles away.8/22/12

Office of STEM Education Partnerships Receives Catalyst AwardThe Office of STEM Education Partnerships (OSEP) won this year’s Evanston Catalyst Award, which recognizes organizations forging partnerships that spark innovation. OSEP shares the award with Evanston Township High School and other organizations partnering in its efforts to enhance science learning. 8/23/12

Dan McAdams Wins Psychology Award Professor Dan McAdams won the 2012 Jack Block Award from the Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP), the society's principal award for career research contributions to personality psychology. McAdams's work and writings focus on concepts of self and identity in American society and themes of power, intimacy, redemption and generativity across the adult life course.8/28/12

John Shurna (BS12) Signs to Play with New York KnicksThe New York Knicks have signed former Wildcat forward John Shurna to a partially guaranteed contract, making him the first Northwestern player to make the NBA since 1999. Shurna led the Big Ten in scoring last year, was named first team All-Big Ten and is on the all-time NU lists for points (2,038), games played (130) and blocked shots (136).9/11/12

Doing Research to Help Solve School ProblemsAssociate professor Jonathan Guryan and a team of investigators are providing hundreds of elementary and middle school students with adult mentors, with the goal of increasing attendance and student engagement at school. The idea is to transform low graduation rates into new commitments to learning.10/1/13

Mapping How Young People LearnIt's no secret that when young children play, it's often serious business for them, helping them comprehend how the adult world works. What may be surprising is exactly how learning takes hold before kids ever enter a classroom. David Uttal, professor of education and psychology, is known for inventive research on how young children acquire knowledge. Spatial learning is a prime area of research for Uttal.10/2/13

Center for Talent Development Holds Fall Educator Conference October 13The Center for Talent Development 2012 Fall Educator’s Conference on October 13 will focus on the new Common Core Standards and their impact on gifted education. Joyce VanTassel-Baska, professor emerita at College of William and Mary and founder of the Center for Talent Development, will be the guest speaker.9/11/12

SESP Newly Certified Teachers Have 95% Job Placement This YearJob placement for newly certified graduates of SESP teaching degree programs rose to 95 percent this year. As of August, 53 of the 56 students certified in 2012 who sought employment had jobs teaching school. In fact, all of SESP’s newly certified teachers who sought jobs in Illinois are employed. 9/13/12

Kemi Jona Works on State Effort to Establish STEM ‘Learning Exchanges’Preparing Illinois students for careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) is the goal of a new state plan to establish “learning exchanges” linking educational opportunities and business resources. SESP research professor Kemi Jona, director of Northwestern University’s Office of STEM Education Partnerships (OSEP), has been involved in the state effort and advises one of the new learning exchanges.9/18/12

SESP Opportunities Fund Supports Student InitiativesFor School of Education and Social Policy undergraduates who want to make a difference through extracurricular initiatives, the SESP Opportunities Fund can make their wishes come true. Last year Mark Birhanu, Jessica Holden, Ellyn Pena, Heather Polonsky, Erica Rodriguez, Aireale Rodgers, Lauren Saunders, Ali Szemanski and Jasmine Wiggins received grants from the fund, which is intended to encourage innovation and service.9/20/12

Seven SESP Faculty and Staff Members Make Northwestern Honor RollSeven School of Education and Social Policy faculty and staff members were named the 2011-12 Faculty and Administrator Honor Roll. Based on student voting, Associated Student Government selected Dorie Blesoff, Alissa Chung, Danny Cohen, David Figlio, Meg Kreuser, Susan Olson and Megan Redfearn for this year’s honor roll. 9/18/12

New Scientist Cites David Figlio's Study Showing Effect of Aging Population on SchoolsIn an article about U.S. demographic trends that highlights a crossroads for aging whites and young Hispanics, New Scientist cites professor David Figlio's finding that where there is a large racial mismatch between the school-age population and the elderly, spending on schooling is lower. The study was reported in the Journal of Public Economics.9/26/12

Remote Online Labs Spark Student's Passion for ScienceThe "cool science experiments" offered by OSEP's remote online laboratories sparked a passion for science in Ashley Rosales. A graduate of Lakes Community High School and now a college biology major who wants to study infectious diseases and also improve the environment, she tells the story of how she got inspired.9/27/12

MSLOC Students Earn Coveted Spot in National Human Capital Case CompetitionMaster of Science in Learning and Educational Change students Amanda Dawson and Swati Surupria were selected for the 2012 National MBA Human Capital Case Competition as members of a Northwestern team composed of SESP and Kellogg students. Only 12 teams from across the nation were selected for the sixth annual competition, held October 18 to 20 in Nashville.10/4/12

Thomas Cook Honored with Peter Rossi Award for Program EvaluationThomas Cook will receive the 2012 Peter H. Rossi Award for Contributions to the Theory or Practice of Program Evaluation at the fall conference of the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management. Cook is a professor of sociology, psychology, education and social policy at Northwestern University.10/11/12

New York Times Recognizes Northwestern as Leader in Voter Registration, Quotes Dan LewisNorthwestern is a leader among colleges initiating their own voter registration drives, according to the New York Times, which quotes professor Dan Lewis on difficulties in the voter registration process this year. Lewis is director of Northwestern University’s Center for Civic Engagement, which started incorporating voter registration into its freshman orientation last year.10/16/12

Close-Up on Innovative Technology School Designed by Kemi Jona and ColleaguesVOISE Academy, designed by a team including SESP professor Kemi Jona, Chicago Public Schools leaders and a distance learning specialist, is one of the first fully blended high schools in the country. Students at the school on Chicago's West Side receive laptops at school, and their instruction is a mix of web-based and in-person teaching.10/18/12

Chris Grodoski (MS03) Named Middle School Art Educator of the YearChristopher Grodoski (MS03), an art teacher at Franklin Middle School in Wheaton, Illinois, received the 2012 Illinois Middle School Art Educator of the Year award from the Illinois Art Education Association. This award recognizes exemplary contributions, service and achievements.10/24/12

OSEP Receives Grant from Google for Mobile Computer Labs for SchoolsThe Office of STEM Education Partnerships (OSEP) received a grant from Google to enhance its mobile computer lab loaner program, called Project ACCESS. The project provides much-needed technology to middle and high school STEM classrooms and labs throughout the Chicago area. 10/30/12

Carol Lee Advances Education Research Internationally Professor Carol Lee is advancing education research on a global scale through her work with the World Education Research Association. The WERA is an international alliance of research organizations that aims to advance education research as a scientific and scholarly field globally. 11/14/12

Uri Wilensky Wins New Grants for Science Learning Technology ProjectsProfessor Uri Wilensky has received National Science Foundation grants for two major new projects aimed at helping students learn science better with cutting-edge technologies. One project, called InquirySpace, will develop a web-based platform for middle and high school students to experience scientific inquiry in a deep and authentic way. A second project will design and study computer models for high school students to learn evolutionary biology and computational thinking.11/13/12

Dan McAdams Named Henry Wade Rogers ProfessorDan McAdams, professor of psychology and human development and social policy, has been named the Henry Wade Rogers Professor in Psychology. His investiture, including a medal ceremony and talk, will be held at 4 p.m. on December 7 in Annenberg Hall. 11/13/12

Kemi Jona to Speak at November 28 Town Hall on Educational TechnologyProfessor Kemi Jona, director of the Office for STEM Education Partnerships at Northwestern, is one of the experts speaking at a town hall conference call on "Education Technology: The Revolution in Digital & Distance Learning" on November 28. Jona's topic relates to content personalization. 11/1/12

Nanotechnology Event for Educators Features Northwestern ScientistsScientists from Northwestern University discussed their cutting-edge work at an inaugural nanotechnology event for educators and students. Office of STEM Education Partnerships assistant director Michelle Paulsen helped to plan the event to showcase the world of nanotechnology and show how nanotechnology can be incorporated into the high school science curriculum.11/1/12

Kits 'n' Cats at NU Day Inspires Evanston Students about CollegeOne hundred Evanston Township High School sophomores got a unique look at Northwestern University when they visited campus on October 30. The twice-yearly Kits ‘n’ Cats at NU day is intended to increase college awareness among Evanston sophomores who haven’t yet decided about college. 11/7/12

New York Times Highlights Linda Teplin's Juvenile ProjectNew York Times describes professor Linda Teplin's ambitious research project that for 17 years has closely tracked more than 1,800 youths in Chicago who entered the juvenile justice system at an early age. More than 80 percent have belonged to a gang; 70 percent of men and 40 percent of women have used a firearm, with average age of first gun use 14; 20 percent are incarcerated; and 71 percent of the men and 59 percent of the women are without jobs as adults. Of the 1,829 youths originally enrolled in the study, 119 have died, most of them violently.11/7/12

Diane Schanzenbach Testifies Small Classes Key to School, Life SuccessAssociate professor Diane Schanzenbach testified in a Texas school funding trial that long-term studies show students in smaller classes tend to do better on standardized tests and become better citizens, more likely to own their own homes and save for retirement. More than 600 school districts are suing the state of Texas, claiming its school funding is inefficient and unfair. 11/9/12

New Funding Boosts OSEP's Fuse Program and Other Initiatives in Network for Innovative LearningIn an innovative partnership to help Chicago youth develop the skills needed to thrive in the 21st century's digital economy, Northwestern is participating with 33 other local organizations in the Chicago Hive Learning Network. This creative collaboration will expand with $2.2 million in new support. The Office of STEM Education Partnerships (OSEP) participates in the Hive Network through its Fuse program, which engages youth in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) through hands-on exploratory challenges. 11/29/12

Jim Spillane Addresses Education Leaders in Hong Kong, SingaporeProfessor Jim Spillane shared his insights on school leadership with an international audience as he addressed education leaders, educators and researchers in Hong Kong and Singapore at major conferences in November. Spillane takes a global perspective on educational policy and reform. 11/29/12

Four Museums Nationwide Install Mike Horn’s ‘Life on Earth’ ExhibitSoon the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago will feature an innovative exhibit developed by SESP assistant professor Michael Horn and his colleagues at other universities. By the end of the year, the “Life on Earth” installation, which invites discovery about evolution and the history of life on Earth, will be open at four science museums nationwide.1/23/13

Fuse Drop-In Program Ignites Teens’ Interest in Science and Arts The Fuse drop-in program draws young people into science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) with “cool” hands-on activities. The Office of STEM Education Partnerships continues to expand Fuse and will soon offer the informal learning program at two Chicago Public Library sites. 1/23/13

Students in SESP Philanthropy Class to Give Away $100,000 Students taking a new School of Education and Social Policy course about philanthropy this spring will put their learning into action in a distinctive new way. The students not only will examine the history and practice of philanthropic giving but will actually give away $100,000 to nonprofit organizations that can impact children and adults.1/23/13

'Computational Thinking' Critical for New K-12 StandardsThe Office of STEM Education Partnerships hosted a workshop for educators on computational thinking on November 28, organized by Michelle Paulsen, Reach for the Stars coordinator. Educators learned how to use computational problem solving to strengthen K-12 science and math learning.12/4/12

Julie Kornfeld (BS11) Publishes Senior Honors ThesisA thesis written by Julie Kornfeld (BS11) as a SESP senior honors student was recently published in a widely read University of Oxford publication focusing on refugee issues. Kornfeld’s article in Forced Migration Review reports her research findings on the role of cultural orientation programs in overseas refugee camps and how they shape perceptions of resettlement in U.S. society. 12/6/12

Kemi Jona and Evanston Teacher Mark Vondracek Describe Online Radioactivity ExperimentIn a new article in The Physics Teacher, SESP research professor Kemi Jona and Evanston Township High School physics teacher Mark Vondracek explain a remote radioactivity experiment that all high school students can access. They position the experiment as an example of a way for schools with limited science resources to improve their science students' learning.12/12/12

DNAInfo.com: Jeanne Marie Olson Analyzes Data from Chicago Public SchoolsLearning and organizational change faculty member, researcher and designer Jeanne Marie Olson is applying her skills in systems analysis to the bureaucracy of Chicago Public Schools. She has teamed up with the citizen advocacy group Raise Your Hand to analyze CPS data on underused schools.12/12/12

Teachers College Record Praises Jim Spillane's Latest Book on Diagnosis and DesignTeachers College Record lauds Diagnosis and Design for School Improvement by professor James Spillane and Amy Coldren (PhD07) as "pragmatic and insightful." Reviewer Thomas Hoerr says, "Their analysis is an empowering one. By highlighting the barriers with which we dance each day, they enable us to think about how to diagnose and design so that the constraints can be overcome." 12/12/12

Washington Post Cites Kirabo Jackson's Study on Cash IncentivesThe Washington Post comments on a cash incentive program for students that is modeled after the Texas program assistant professor Kirabo Jackson studied. He found “the campuswide increases in the percentage of students in 11th and 12th grades who take AP or IB [International Baccalaureate] exams are driven primarily by increased participation among black and Hispanic students." He also found increases in ACT and SAT scores.12/13/12

Elizabeth Gerber in Huffington Post: Crowdfunding Fails Some Promising EntrepreneursIn a Huffington Post blog post, assistant professor Elizabeth Gerber writes about "crowdfunding," where budding capitalists reach out to thousands of people to ask for small amounts of money. But because some budding entrepreneurs lack a social network that includes people who can afford to give away money, crowdfunding is helping well-connected middle-class entrepreneurs -- and leaving many others' brilliant ideas behind.12/18/12

Kemi Jona Comments on Advantages of Massive Open Online CoursesProfessor Kemi Jona tells InformationWeek of several advantages to the massive open online courses (MOOCs) that are increasingly popular. He says research suggests online environments may be more conducive to risk-taking and student participation. He thinks the current excitement about MOOCs is because of economics.12/20/12

Two SESP Students Win Undergraduate Research Grants SESP seniors Victoria Romba and Birong Wang were awarded $1,000 Undergraduate Research Grants during fall quarter from the Northwestern University Office of the Provost. Their research topics investigate early adulthood and the impact of language.12/27/12